We first got our about 2 weeks ago, he's probably a month old (3" without tail or 6" total).
When we first got him he was ok with being handled. Now, he's not he runs around avoiding hands and he puffs out his beard when I try to pick him up.
He seems to be happy with his tank and he's very active , actually he NEVER hides.
He looks healthy (no discolouration, no eye/nose discharge, etc).
This is our first beardie is this normal?
PS I read :study: all the basic care on the forum AND the fact sheets on parasites.
Thank you for reading my post and replying any help is greatly appreciated.
Yes, it's normal for a baby, they go through a bit of relocation stress and that's how it comes out. Try putting a t-shirt or something that you've worn with your scent on it into his tank for him to sleep on or just lie on, it sometimes helps alot. Also don't approch except from in front and very slowly. Put your hand in the tank, ahead of him, see if he'll come onto your hand by himself. When I had a little one (he's 4 1/2 yrs old now) I'd always take him out slowly when he was sleepy, wrap him up in a soft facecloth and lay down with him on my chest. That worked very well, he'd snuggle in and sleep some and within a few days I could pick him up any time. Now he loves to sleep on my shoulder! So it does work, just takes time.
Thank you Sweetie!
I was also wondering, he's very alert but sometime puts his head down on my hand like he's trying to lie flat.
Is that a sign of being scared?
No that's a sign that he trusts you and he loves your very warm hand. It's a good sign. If you want to post some pics here, I love to see pics of babies!
After you upload to photobucket, you copy the IMG code to an open post on here. There is a demo in Photo Expressions, if you have trouble, that will help you. On photobucket I use the old version, not the new one, too many bugs. So give that a try.
No that's a sign that he trusts you and he loves your very warm hand. It's a good sign. If you want to post some pics here, I love to see pics of babies!
They act crazy and go through tons of phases when young. Wait til he sees his reflection!!!
What I did for this was try to give one live feeding each day (not all feedings just one) outside the tank. I just a blanket on my bed and picked up the crickets by antennas and more or less handed it to her on my bed/lap. She quickly saw coming out or me handling her as good thing and I never feed outside of the tank anymore. I also made it a point to sit with shorts on and have my legs straight out and together. I put her where my legs met and she would nuzzle into the warmth of the crevice, get used to my scent and learn I was the best heat source ever and doze off! They are so funny.